Health
The future of nanomedicines in Europe
Nanomedicines are emerging as an innovative technology in the scientific field, as they help address unmet medical needs and offer alternatives for many therapeutic areas. Nanomedicine uses state-of-the-art nanotechnology like nanoparticles, nanorobots or nanoelectronic biosensors for diagnosing or treating cancer,...
Breaking silos in diabetes care
According to available data, 60 million people suffer from diabetes in Europe, a figure expected to rise to 68 million by 2045, while diabetes management already represents as much as 10% of overall health budgets.
Driving progress in Europe’s cancer care
With the advent of the Commission's long-awaited cancer plan rapidly approaching, now more than ever, the impetus is there for EU lawmakers to drive change in Europe's cancer care.
The way forward to an animal-free science
Although the EU remains fully committed to phasing out animal testing, a recent European Commission report has shown that animals are still used in areas such as skin irritation and serious eye damage, areas where alternative methods have reached regulatory acceptance.
Innovation and patients at the core of EU orphan drugs law review
The EU's Orphan Regulation was introduced in 2000 and its main objective was to address the challenge of regulating medicines which treat an estimated 30 million patients with rare diseases across the EU.
Transparency in the race for a COVID vaccine
As the coronavirus crisis continues to have a devasting impact on people’s lives and livelihoods, all eyes are on scientists to deliver on a COVID-19 vaccine. It is widely accepted that a safe and effective vaccine represents our best chance...
Preventing osteoporosis in the EU
Osteoporosis is a chronic condition in which bones become weak and brittle, leading to fractures and breaks which often carry life-debilitating consequences. As well as causing considerable mental and psychological distress, they also severely impair people’s abilities to participate in...
COVID-19 and beyond: Confidence and resilience in vaccine ecosystem
The debate over a rapid but safe and effective vaccine to fight the COVID-19 pandemic has heated up in Europe and worldwide.
Building a stronger EU Health Union: where to start?
The European Union is committed to scaling up its role on public health, at the time when well-known diseases such as cancer and obesity intertwine with new cross-border health threats. Drawing lessons from this year’s pandemic, which exposed flaws in...
Europe’s health after COVID-19
Many EU countries are now experiencing the second wave of the COVID-10 pandemic and it seems that the lack of Europe-wide coordination that marked the first wave is still there.
Rare diseases: Ensuring Europe remains at the forefront of innovation
In the past two decades, a combination of scientific breakthroughs coupled with strong incentive systems has seen considerable progress for rare disease patients, but this innovation has tapered off in recent years.
Reviewing orphan drugs law: A tough equation
The Orphan Regulation was introduced in 2000 and its main objective was to address the challenge of regulating medicines which treat patients with rare diseases. Around 246,000 people suffer from such diseases across the EU, The European Commission is expected...
Reviving EU ambition on organ donation and transplantation
Transplanting organs is one of the greatest medical achievements but donation remains a challenge for Europe, as 18 patients still die every day waiting for a donor.
Digital Transformation in Healthcare
The development of pioneering new digital treatments and technologies, including robotics, artifical intelligence and data networks, is set to transform our healthcare systems over the coming years.
Polluted air: the invisible killer
The European Environment Agency estimates that 374,000 Europeans die prematurely every year due to air pollution.
Shedding light on medical cannabis
The medical cannabis industry is growing rapidly in Europe and thousands of patients are already prescribed with cannabis-based drugs. This created a new demand that now runs the risk of being unsatisfied if the legislation remains fragmented amongst EU countries.
Whole grains: key part of healthy and sustainable diet
The Whole Grain Initiative, a partnership of international organisations and scientists dedicated to promoting whole grain diets, held an event on Tuesday (19 November) to mark the first International Whole Grain Day.
Empowering patients for a better health
Concepts like the multisectoral approach and people-centred health services are turning the healthcare sector upside down, putting people back at the core and breaking silos for implementing cross-sectoral policies.
An EU health policy for rheumatic and musculoskeletal diseases
Rheumatic and musculoskeletal diseases (RMDs) represent one of the more burdensome chronic diseases affecting around 25% of EU citizens of all ages. The European League Against Rheumatism (Eular) says that, beyond the impact on individuals, RMDs impose an enormous burden...
20 Visions for Europe
We gather 20 unique visions on the next two decades of Europe from public officials, intellectuals, artists, diplomats, athletes, civic actors and business representatives.
Biotechnology: Europe’s next ‘hot potato’
The discussion over the future of biotechnology in Europe heated up after the EU Court ruled in July last year that gene editing should, in principle, fall under the GMO Directive. We focus on the future of biotechnology in Europe, the regulatory framework of the so-called new plant-breeding techniques, as well as GMOs.
Buildings and the forgotten 90%
Human beings spend on average 90% of their lives indoors. Buildings are also a huge drain on energy resources and create a significant amount of greenhouse gas emissions. This Special Report looks deeper into the places we live and work.
A ‘healthy’ vaccines ecosystem
The EU's fragmented market has created barriers for vaccines in Europe. In this Special Report, EURACTIV looks into what a “healthy vaccines ecosystem” is and how its different components could better coordinate to break silos and improve healthcare.